This work is the property of the Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, TN. It may be used freely by individuals for research, teaching, and personal use as long as this statement of availability is included in the text. For all other use contact the Tennessee State Library and Archives, 403 Seventh Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37243-0312. (615) 741-2764.

Date:

January 11, 1814

Extent:

4p

Summary:

This is a transcription of a speech given by Joseph Brown to Chief Cotetoy and other Cherokee on Jan. 11, 1814. Brown has taken eight Cherokee from Cotetoy because they are descended from an African slave woman that Cotetoy stole from Brown's father. Brown says that he forgives Cotetoy for killing members of his family, and that he wants them to live in peace and friendship.

I Would [unclear: agree to inform ] you that I think it is a Duty to [unclear: Re take ] possesion [possession] of these Negroes for varies [various] reasons in the first place because the [they] are my property and it would be [unclear: wrong ] to make government pay for them because the [they] were taken when peas [peace] profesed [professed] by said Nation & again when my self & Brother & sisters were [unclear: banned ] by treaty a number of us were not of age & one Brother that was taken a prisoner when I was, was still in bondage in the Creek Nation & not more than sixteen years of age & all my white Brothers [unclear: Dose [Does] ] know that there is no law can be made that will take the property of an Infant, but always the when the Infant comes of age when ever he finds his property he can prove it and take the same by a Due Course of law and in as much as there is no law hear [here] the laws of Justice says that I should take them, in as much as said Cutteoty [Cotetoy] acknowledges these eight Negroes to be the Desendents [Descendents] of the Woman that he took from my father in the year 1788 it is right that I should take them And my friend Cutteoty [Cotetoy] I hope you will not think hard of me for taking posesion [possession] of the Negroes because

you Do know that it is right for all men to have those right & as it is well known to you that I Do not Do as you have Done I only take my Own property, you took my property, & Wors [Worse] than all that you took the life of my father & two Brothers & five other young men in a time when peace was profesed by your own Nation, I Do Not Do this, I onley [only] take my property, Because I Do know my peopel [people] are gone & aney [any] thing that I Can Do Will not bring them back I am therefore Willing to forgive you onley [only] because it is Certain both you and me are accountabel [accountable] for our Conduct to the grate [great] Father and in as Much as the Grate [Great] Father put it into your mind When you had [unclear: me striped ] , to take my life, that if you Did that the man that the man that [unclear: took me ] would kill the Negroewoman [negroe woman] that you had taken & sent up by water, Now sin [since] you see the good you have Done in sparing me you Now have man that is abul [able] to help you Much in the Destruction of your Enemies I think that when these Negroes are

gone you will feel Much Better you will then know that I have got a small part of my Wright but yet it is all you have, & you have had them more than a sufficiency to pay you for your troubel [trouble][unclear: in ] raising them — And [unclear: altho [although] ] you have been the caus [cause] of me loosing my [added: property] and living in property poverty allmost [almost] all my life I Am Now Willing to forgive you all that you have ever Doen [Done] as to the Destruction of my family [unclear][gap] hand in friendship. & [unclear: never a gain raise ] a flag for friendship When you aim at war this is a scandal to any Nation I wish you Not to think hard of my talk but let us try to live in friendship I am yours [unclear: &c ]

J [Joseph] S,, Brown

[added: We Do Certify that the above is the [unclear: true lance ] of a talk Delivered by Joseph Brown to Cutteoty [Cotetoy] & others of the Cherroke [Cherokee] nation at fort Hampton 11th January 1814]